A century ago, the southwest Florida coast was mostly swamps and shoals, prone to frequent flooding and almost impossible to navigate by boat.
Since then, real estate developers manipulated coastal and riverine ecosystems through dredging and filling to create valuable, buildable land. The results of their efforts created coastal communities that were home to more than 2 million people when Hurricane Ian struck.
Many of the homes in the region sit just a few feet from the ocean, surrounded by canals that flow to the Gulf of Mexico. The devastating storm’s 150-mile-per-hour winds and massive storm surge smashed hundreds of buildings to pieces, flooded houses, and tossed around boats and mobile homes. Vast portions of cities including Fort Myers and Port Charlotte were destroyed in a few hours.
The extensive land tracts formed by tearing out mangroves and draining swamps damaged natural wetland marshes that would have protected properties further inland from the storm surge. Thus, the damaging impacts of Hurricane Ian were catastrophic for a vast swath of southwest Florida.
Only three hurricanes had made landfall in the region since 1960, and none of them caused catastrophic flooding. Ian broke that streak, and those who rebuild in destroyed areas will continue to be at high risk from storms.
Related Stories
Building Team | Nov 14, 2017
12 differences between average and high-growth firms
We’ve developed a pretty good understanding of what high-growth firms do differently from their average-growth peers.
Sponsored | Building Team | Nov 3, 2017
4 strategies for marketing your AEC firm
Having a clearly defined competitive brand and a fine-tuned marketing approach can give your firm a significant competitive advantage.
Sponsored | Building Team | Sep 21, 2017
The 11 project performance metrics that keep you on track
Projects are the backbone of the way you do business. Isn’t it time that you step up their analysis?
Architects | Aug 16, 2017
Staffelbach joins DLR Group
The firm will be merging operations immediately with full integration and the name change to DLR Group| Staffelbach effective October 2.
Multifamily Housing | Aug 14, 2017
Co-living: The next real estate disruptor or niche market?
From a practicality standpoint, co-living makes complete sense for young, single, and highly mobile working professionals.
Building Team | Jul 25, 2017
Managing workplace change: The three C's to building trust
Building trust takes time and consistency, and is typically much easier to break than build.
Giants 400 | Jul 12, 2017
Innovation abounds, but will it lead to growth for AEC Giants?
Engineering firms such as Arup, Glumac, and Thornton Tomasetti are leveraging their in-house expertise to develop products and tools for their design teams, clients, and even the competition.
Building Team | Jun 27, 2017
Bruner Foundation announces 2017 Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence gold and silver medalists
The SteelStacks Arts and Cultural Campus in Bethlehem, Pa., receives the gold medal and $50,000.
Urban Planning | Jun 26, 2017
Convenience and community lead the suburban shift
As the demand for well-connected urban locales increases, so too has the cost of property and monthly rent; and as suburbs typically offer a bargain on both, more people are looking for a compromise.
Building Team | Jun 23, 2017
These are the recipients of the AIA's 2017 Small Project Awards
11 projects were awarded in 2017.
